Possible default of Naftogaz not to cause loss of gas transport system

Kyiv, October 2 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine will not lose its gas transport system even if Naftogaz Ukrainy defaults on its debts, political expert Ihor Zhdanov has said.

"I've spoken with specialists, and they said that there are no gas transport systems on the balance of Naftogaz – they belong to the State Property Fund," Zhdanov, who is the president of the Open Policy Analytical Center, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

At the same time, he didn't exclude that in the case of a possible default of Naftogaz, Russia could arrest any property that belongs to Ukraine, in particular, aircraft.

"But this [default] didn't occur, and this [restructuring of Naftogaz debts] really is an achievement," he said.

According to him, "final agreements [on restructuring] haven't been signed yet, but there is hope that Naftogaz will manage to restructure its debt obligations by 2014."

"This will relieve the pressure in the country, and I think, this will be taken well by creditors, as the situation is one of crisis, and everybody understands that restructuring is an absolutely proper way out of this situation," the political expert said.